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Skin disorder: Lichen planus

Lichen planus is a dermatological condition that appears on the skin as purple or even reddish-purple bumps, having an uneven shape, and presenting flakes or scales on their surface.

As a specific localization doctors consider the forearms, the inner wrists and the ankles, but they also look for lichen planus lesions on the scalp (small scalp areas that have lost their hair), the inside of the mouth (lacy white patches that can be found on the tongue or the inside of the cheeks), the genital area and the nails (here liquen planus gives the aspect of brittle or split nails).

The cause of lichen planus has not been yet well determined, but doctors say that this skin disorder can be linked quite often with the presence of hepatitis C and primary biliary cirrhosis. Stress factors are not a cause of this affection, but they can make it worse.

The bumps lichen planus gives on the skin can be quite itchy and after they disappear you might observe that dark brown spots have taken their place. These are not scars, they will not be permanent on the skin, but it might take a few moths for them to fade away. In case lichen planus lesions occur inside the mouth, then itching is replaced with pain due to the fact that the mucous membrane inside the mouth is very delicate and well innervated. In some cases of mouth lichen planus, malignant transformation of the lesions has been noted.

Sometimes lichen planus is not easy to diagnose and further tests need to be done besides looking carefully at the bumps and lesions. Your dermatologist might want to perform a skin biopsy and some blood tests. The biopsy taken from the skin area that is affected by lichen planus will be taken to a laboratory and the results will be able to set a right diagnose.

In a lot of cases lichen planus goes away on its own in a few months. An antihistaminic lotion of systemic drug could be of help against itchiness and for keeping the rash under control. In more severe cases a cream based on steroids or retinoids should be applied on the bumps. Internal treatment with steroids or retinoids is also possible, but such medication has some side effects and should be reserved only for severe cases of lichen planus.

Another treatment option is light therapy. Patients suffering of wide spread lesions usually respond great to narrow band or broadband UV-B therapy. Also, therapy with UV-A has also been reported as useful, but side effects on long term use as skin cancer and cataract should be considered first.

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